Class 9 Enlgish Beehive Chapter 2 NCERT solutions| 9thgrader

Chapter 2: The Sound Of Music

Part I: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?

Ans: Evelyn was seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music.

2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?

Ans: Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old. It was confirmed by the time she was eleven.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30–40 words).

1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?

Ans: Percussionist Ron Forbes helped Evelyn continue with music. He spotted her potential and encouraged her to feel the music through different parts of her body. He told her to sense the music instead of hearing it.

2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.

Ans: Evelyn performs in different parts of the world, including regular concerts. She performs at prisons and hospitals and also gives high-profile performances. She aims to inspire and support the cause of the differently-abled.

III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).

1. How does Evelyn hear music?

Ans: Evelyn hears music by sensing vibrations in her body. She feels the higher drum from the upper part of her body and the lower drum from the lower part. Her feet detect the sound passing up through them into her legs. She also removes her shoes on a wooden platform to feel the vibrations better. Evelyn’s extraordinary ability to feel music allows her to perform exquisitely.

Part II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

I. Tick the right answer.

1. The (shehnai, pungi) was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’

Ans: The pungi was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’

2. (Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.

Ans: A barber transformed the pungi into a shehnai.

3. Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians).

Ans: Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were professional musicians.

4. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, the barber).

Ans: Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from Ali Bux.

5. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, USA, Canada).

Ans: Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to Afghanistan.

II. Find the words in the text which show Ustad Bismillah Khan’s feelings about the items listed below. Then mark a tick (?) in the correct column. Discuss your answers in class.

Ans:

Teaching children music: important

The film world: too glamorous

Migrating to the USA: uneasy

Playing at temples: loves

III. Answer these questions in 30–40 words.

1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?

Ans: Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because it had a shrill, unpleasant sound.

2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?

Ans: The shehnai is made with a longer and broader pipe than the pungi. It produces a melodious and pleasant sound compared to the shrill noise of the pungi.

3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?

Ans: Traditionally, the shehnai was played in temples and during weddings. Bismillah Khan changed this by bringing it onto the classical stage and elevating its status to a concert instrument.

4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?

Ans: Bismillah Khan got his big break in 1938 when he played at the All India Radio, Lucknow, which made him an instant hit.

5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?

Ans: Bismillah Khan played the shehnai from the Red Fort on 15 August 1947. The event was historic as it marked the first Independence Day of India.

6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the USA?

Ans: Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the USA because he could not bring himself to leave India, his homeland, and the city of Benaras, which he dearly loved.

7. Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.

Ans: Two instances that show Bismillah Khan's love for India and Benaras are: He declined the offer to settle in the USA, saying he would miss Benaras and the Ganga. He remained rooted in India, considering Benaras his home and place of inspiration.